At an emergency Security Council meeting, under-secretary general for political affairs Jeffrey Feltman said a ceasefire was "indispensable".

In 1994 Mr Halliday was appointed an assistant under-secretary general for human resource management in the UN's department of administration and management.

Achim Steiner, a UN under-secretary general and Unep's executive director, said the report provided the scientific basis for a long overdue restoration of Ogoniland.

Cameron attempted to ensure that Lansley became the next UN under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief this year, but his efforts were thwarted.

Photograph: Murdo Macleod The UN under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, Valerie Amos, has told the security council that 240,000 people remain besieged across Syria.

U.N. Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe said Ban's panel will advise him on international standards and comparative experiences with accountability.

The first thing is money, U.N. Under-secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock told reporters at a trans-shipment point for supplies in southern Turkey.

The government's announcement comes two days after United Nations Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes voiced concern over the displaced Tamils' freedom of movement.

Mr Jan Egeland, Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator, said it was "a race against the clock" to prevent disaster.

Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said that an appeal launched a week ago for $543 million was only 21 per cent funded.